Bottle-capping tool



Aug.14,192& 4

. H. J. LEBHERZ BOTTLE CAPPING Toon Filed Nov. 18, 1925 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Aug. 14, 1.928.

H. J. LEBHERZ BOTTLE CAPPING TOOL Filed Nov. 18. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fluctuant Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

N 1,681,144 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

HARRY J. LEBHERZ, F FREDERICK, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE EVERYREDY COM- .i PAN Y, OF FREDERICK, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND. ii

BOTTLE-CAPPING TOOL.

Application` filed November A18, 1925. Serial No. 69,868.

My invention i relates broadly to bottle capping tools and more particularly to a construction` of bottle capping heads `and lever operating means for applying such heads upon bottles in the process of capping such bottles.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a bottle capping tool in which spring means are provided for normally maintaining the capping lever out of engagement with a vertically extending rack upon which the capping head of a bottle capping tool is arranged to be operated.

Another object of my invention is to provide an attachment which may be readily applied to a pivotalmounting of a bottle capping tool by which the hand lever which is utilized for operating the capping head of a bottle cappingtool may be returned `to an initial operating position after each applicationy of the capping head against a bottle which is to be capped by the use of such tool.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a simplied attachment for the pivotalaxis of the hand lever in a bottle cap ping tool by which spring tension may be maintained on the hand lever for normally raising the bottle capping head which is secured to said lever out of engagement with the bott-le in the process of capping, enabling the capping head to be readily applied to bottles to be capped in successive operations. i

My invention will be more clearly understood from the following specification, by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bottle capping tool of my invention equipped with a capping head and the spring attachment for the hand lever thereof constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view taken through one side `oi the bottle capping head and showing the hand lever in its lowermost position in the process of applying a cap upon a bottle;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the bottle capping head showing the capping lever raised in its uppermost position in` such manner that the bottle capping head may be moved to any desired point along the vertically extending rack; Fig. 4 illustrates the bottle capping head with the hand lever in position where a cap is about to be placed upon a bottle; F ig. 5 is a view partially in cr0ss-section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. l through the bottle capping head and illustrating the spring means which I provide andl attachment which is secured upon the pivot point of the bottle capping head for engagement with the hand lever thereof; Fig. 6 is a plan View of the bottle capping head showing the relation of the attachment which is positioned on the bottle capping head at the fulcrum thereof with the spring means for urging said attachment against the end of said hand lever at all times;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one form ofl trigger used in the assembly of the bottle capping tool; and Figs. 8, to 12 show a modified construction of trigger and side plates ,for the bottle capping head on the bottle capping tool. The details of construction oi` the bottle capping tool `of my invention are described more particularly in Letters Patent Nos. 1,356,161, dated October 19, 1920, granted to Harry J. Lebherz, Reissue 15,285, dated February 14;, 1922, granted to Harry J. Lebherz, and 1,421,698,

dated July 4;, 1922 and granted to Harry J. Y

Lebherz.

In the present invention I have illustrated an attachment for the bottle capping tool set forth more particularly in the aforementioned Letters Patent, by which the hand lever of the bottle capping tool is normally maintained in operating position at all times. and returned toan initial operating' position after each successive capping operation. I provide an inexpensive iiat circular plate member having one side eX- tcnded out of round, with a pair of lugs extended therefrom and bent at right angles to said fiat circular plate and in opposite "directions to said plate. The iiat plate is secured upon the pivotal axis of the hand lever and one of the outstanding lugs on said plate engages the extremity of the hand lever, while the other of said lugs is engaged by spring means which normally tends to secure the opposite lug into abutment with the lower end of the hand lever. Thelug which abuts with the lower end of the hand lever is constantly urged against the hand lever in such manner that there is a tendency for the lhand lever to move to its 'upper` most position after each application of the bottle capping tool in the process of capping a bottle. The lug which-engages the end portion oi the hand lever also serves as a spacing member to maintain the hand lever out of gear with the vertical rack portion when the lever is thrown to a vertical position for changing the height above the base ot` the capping tool at which the capping head is operated.

"Referring` to the drawings in more detail, reference character 1 designates the base ot the bottle capping tool on which is erected the vertical standard 2 carrying a rack 3 at its upper extremity. The standard 2 is provided with laterally extending guide rails i which serve to pern'iit the Vfree vertical movement of the capping head 5. The capping head 5 carries the capper throat G which is applied in the direction ot the bottles which are to be capped tor successive capping operations. A hand lever 7 is pivotcd at 8 in the upper extremity of the bottle capping head. 5 and carries at its lower extremity a set of teeth 9 which mesh with the teeth formed in the rack 3 for operating the bottle capping head in a vertical direction along the rack 3 in the process ot successively applying caps to bottles. The attachment of my invention is shown more clearly in Fig. 7 as comprising a iiat plate member 10 having a central aperture 10ft therein which tits over the pivotal mountingr 8 on which the lever 7 is nlcrumed. The fiat plate 10 is substantially circular with an elongated por tion 11 at one side thereof from which lug portions 12 and 111 extend on opposite sides of the plate 10. The lug portion 12 is bent at right angles with respect to the plate 10 and extends to a point between the side plates 5a and 5b which comprise the bottle capping head, and then is again turned at right angles forming the downwardly directed hook end 15 which abuts with the surface 1G at the lower extremity of the hand lever 7. The lug 14 extends at right angles to the plate 10 in a direction opposite to the direction of the lug 12, that is outwardly in a direction trom the bottle capping head 5. The lug 14 is apertured at 14a and a. spiral spring 17 is hooked between the aperture 14a and a point 1S on the bottle capping head I have shown the side plate 5o as notched with the hook portion 17a of the spiral spring 17 secured therein, but it will be understood that an outstruclr portion may be provided on the bottle capping head 5 and the end of the spiral spring secured therein.

In Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 I have shown the side plates 5a and 5b as provided with notches 2O and 21 against which the lateral portion 12 ot the trigger 10 abuts. The lever is thrown into upper position as represented in Fig. 9 thereby eliminatingr the tendency of the trigger to be bent when the handle is thrown upwardly into changing position. The side plates 5a and 45b are so notched at 20 and 21 that the trigger portion 12 drops into the notches 2() and 21 and limits the movement ot' the lever 7 in the direction of the rack Various shapes may bc given to the side plates 5o. and 5l) to control the movement of the hand lever under action o1.' the trigger. The shape ot the trigger to cooperate with the notched side plates 5u and 5f; is varied from the shape shown in Fig. 7 as represented in Fig. 12 omitting the hook shaped portion 15 therefrom.

In the operation of the bottle capping tool the hand lever 7 is thrown up in a vertical position as represented in Fig. il in order that the bottle capping head 5 may be adjusted to any desired position 'for capping various types ot' hotties. In this position the lug 12 with hook end portion 15 will serve as a stop to maintain the teeth El on the extreme end of the hand lever 7 out ot mesh with the teeth ot the rack 3. In the process of capping a bottle the hand lever 7 moved downwardly as represented in Fig. -1 and when a position is reached where `the eapper throat G engages a bottle the lower extremity 16 of the hand lever 7 abuis with the lower extremity ot hook portion 'l5 and the capper throat 6 is moved downwardly against the action of' spring device 17 to an extreme position illustrated in Fig. 2 when the bottle capping operation is complete. The depending or hook portion 15 enables the hand lever 7 to he moved downwardly to an extreme lowermost position as represented in Fig. 2. The spring 17 tends to constantly urge the hand lever into a normal operating position and after each successive capping operation the member 10 is drawn by virtue ot' spring pressure exerted by coil spring 17 to a position where the lug portion 12 abuts against the top of the side plate 5e of the capping head 5, raising the hand lever to a position where it is ready for the next capping operation.

It will be observed that the plate member 10 may be readily manufactured inexpensively on a quantity production basis. lVhile I have shown my invention in certain preferred embodiments7 I desire that it be understood that modifications may be made and that I intend no limitations upon the invention other than those imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

Vtlhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:-

1. In a bottle capping tool, the combination of a vertical rack member, a capping head adjustably arranged on said rack member, a capper throat carried by said capping head, al hand lever pivotally mounted in said capping head and having teeth at the end thereof for engagement with said vertical rack member, a flat plate member jourualed on the pivot of said hand lever, and

being substantially circular in-shape with lug members extending laterally from said plate member at an angle with respect to each other, one of said lugs extending over` said capping head and having a hook shaped end thereon arranged to abut with the lower extremity of said hand lever, resilient means positioned between a point on said capping head and the other of said lug members for constantly urging said hook sha ed lug member into engagement with said hand lever.

2. In a bottle capping tool, the combination of a vertical rack member, a capping head adjustably arranged on said rack member, a capper throat carried by said capping head, a hand lever pivotally mounted in said capping head and having teeth at the end thereof for enga-gement with said vertical rack member, a flat plate member journaled on the pivot of said hand lever, said plate member havinor a pair of lugs extending laterally therefiom, one of said lugs being bent upon itself and arranged to en gage the lower extremity of said hand lever and the other of said lugs being'resiliently connected with a point on said capping head wherebysaid hand lever is constantly urged in raised position.

3. In a bottle capping tool, the combination of a vertically extending rack member, a capping head a j rack member, a capper throatocarried by said capping head, a hand lever pivotally mounted in said capping head, 'a flat plate member `concentrically mounted on the pivot of said hand lever and having a pair of lug ustably arranged on said extensions thereon, one of said lug extensions forming a spacing member between one side of said hand lever and said rack member, and the other of said lugs being resiliently connected with a point` on said capping head, said first mentioned lug forming an abutment with said hand lever and tending to return said hand lever to normally raised position after each successive operation of said capping tool.

4. In a bottle capping tool the combination of a vertically extending rack member, a capping head slidably mounted on said rack member comprising a pair of plate members located on opposite sides of said rack member, said plate members forming a journal in the upper extremity thereof for a hand lever having teeth thereon arranged to engage with said rack member, a flat plate member positioned on said journal and having a pair of lugmembers extending at right angles therefrom with one of said lug members being formed in the shape of a hook with its lower extremity depending between said plate members and forming an abutment for the lower end of said hand lever, and the other of said lug members being resiliently connected with a point `on said capping head whereby downward movement of said hand lever tends to increase the tension exerted on the lower end thereof by said hook shaped member, whereby said hand lever is successively returned to normal position after each operation of said bottle capping head.

` HARRY J. LEBHERZ.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTICN.

Patent No. 1,681,144. Granted August 14, 1928, to

HARRY J. LEBHERZ.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in the heading to the printed specification of the above numbered patent, was erroneously printed as "The Everyredy Company", whereas said naine should have been printed as "The Everedy Company", as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record oi the onse in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of August, A. D. 1928.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

